Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick commended Austin Reaves for his development as a leader ahead of the team’s opening playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The fourth-year guard is averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, all career highs, while logging 34.9 minutes per night this season.
Reaves, 26, stepped into a larger offensive role following the midseason trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, with Redick challenging him to take on primary ball-handling responsibilities.
“The first real challenge was post-Dorian trade and him becoming the primary handler,” Redick told reporters.
The Lakers coach noted that Reaves has not only handled more playmaking duties but has also matured into a more vocal presence in the locker room.
“He’s becoming a more vocal leader,” Redick said. “He’s not a first-round pick, not a lottery pick, not a top-five pick with franchise expectations. He came in and earned his contract.”
Redick said he challenged the trio of Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic — all tasked with finding on-court chemistry quickly after the trade — and praised Reaves for exceeding expectations.
“Austin’s great to coach,” Redick said. “He’s accepted every challenge and exceeded any baseline expectation we had.”
The Lakers finished the regular season with a 50–32 record, securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
They will face the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who went 49–33, in the first round of the playoffs.
Reaves will be tasked with helping contain All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, who leads Minnesota in scoring.
Redick revealed that Sunday’s practice session focused on conditioning and shooting rather than live action, with full participation from the roster including LeBron James and Maxi Kleber.
Kleber, however, remains without a return timeline, though he has resumed on-court activities.
